Just a few years ago, it seemed impossible to pluck T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith from the top-ranked spot among the NFL's best pass rush duos. But these days, this once-dominant tandem is quietly starting to fall.
Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport recently released his power rankings of the NFL's top-10 pass rush duos. While Watt and Highsmith deservedly made the list, they ranked No. 4. Gavenport spoke highly of this pairing.
"Watt is a generational talent. At some point, he will be enshrined in Canton. And while last year's 55 tackles and seven sacks were something of a down year by his standards, the 31-year-old remains one of the most-feared edge-rushers in the NFL.
Pittsburgh's pass-rush isn't a one-man band, either. After just eight sacks over his first two seasons, Alex Highsmith exploded for 14.5 in 2022 while leading the league with five forced fumbles. Highsmith has been unable to duplicate that massive year since, but his 9.5 sacks in 2025 are nothing to sneeze at."
While being the No. 4 pass-rush duo in the league is nothing to scoff at, Davenport wrote more about what Watt and Highsmith did in years past than what they've done for the team lately. This tandem combined for 16.5 sacks and 25 tackles for a loss last season. These are respectable numbers, but not as impressive as they once were.
Ahead of the Steelers' pairing was the lethal combination of Texans' edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danille Hunter (No. 1 duo), Broncos' Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper (No. 2), and Rams' Jared Verse and Byron Young (No. 3).
The Pittsburgh Steelers still have a good edge-rush duo, but an elite edge-rush trio
When T.J. Watt hit his 30s, his performance gradually went downhill. This is to be expected, even with the formerly elite NFL edge rushers. While Alex Highsmith (who will turn 29 before the 2026 season) is still playing some of his best football, his performance hasn't been enough to make up for Watt's decline, and this Steelers tandem is slipping from the top spot they once held in the public's eyes.
This once-dominant duo is still good... but if you consider the Steelers' edge rushers as a trio, it quickly goes back to being elite again.
Davenport was sure to mention Nick Herbig, a rotational edge rusher who is coming off another strong season.
"And then there's Nick Herbig, who is one of the most valuable "third-wheel" pass-rushers in the league. Herbig's numbers improved each and every year he has been in the NFL, and last year the 24-year-old set a career-high with seven sacks," Davenport wrote on B/R.
While the arrow is pointed down with Watt as he prepares for his age-32 season, the arrow is still pointing up for the 24-year-old Nick Herbig. The Steelers' 2023 fourth-round pick made it known this offseason that he wants a full-time role on defense. Thankfully, Herbig's agent was adamant that the young passer does not want to leave the Pittsburgh Steelers.
With age, the previously lethal combination of Watt and Highsmith could continue to decline in 2026, but Herbig's presence should ensure that the Steelers still have one of the league's best edge-rusher trios this season.
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